Prosecutor General demands expulsion of First Secretary at Russian embassy

The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ivan Geshev, informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodora Genchovska, about an unauthorized intelligence activity carried out probably in favour of the Russian Federation by a person with diplomatic immunity.

Under the supervision of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, investigative actions are being conducted, together with the State Agency for National Security, in criminal proceedings initiated under Article 104 of the Criminal Code.

During the course of the investigation, it has been established that a person enjoying diplomatic immunity, expressed in a possibly unauthorized gathering of information of national importance. The same person is accredited as "First Secretary" at the Embassy of the Russian Federation.

The above constitutes a violation of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In view of the above, the Prosecutor General has informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the evidence gathered in the course of the investigation of a possible offence committed by a representative of the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in Sofia, for appropriate action to be taken.